When I turned 50, I was at my heaviest, with high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and two herniated discs that left me in constant pain and afraid to move. At the peak of my career, I hated how I felt in my body and started shrinking from being seen. I thought I was doing everything right: I ate plant-based, cut out salt, oil, and sugar, and did sweaty cardio three times a week. But the weight didn’t come off. Eventually, I bought looser clothes to hide my bulges and rolls. I started to believe this was just getting older, and I’d better get used to it.

By my mid-50s, my doctor had me on blood pressure medication and was talking about more prescriptions. Then I saw my vacation photos, and they crushed me. I barely recognized myself. I didn’t want to spend the next 20 or 30 years feeling this way.

That’s when I realized I’d been following the wrong plan. Instead of eating less and exercising the weight off, I needed to eat enough, get more protein, and build muscle. I stopped trying to shrink my body and started giving it what it needed.

What I love is that I no longer feel like I’m fighting my body. I lost 45 pounds, my blood pressure normalized, I came off medication, and the pain went away. Today, I’m strong and confident. I love the way I look, and I say yes to hiking, active vacations, and smiling for photos instead of avoiding them.

If you’re a woman over 50 who’s tried to eat healthy and exercise without getting the results you want, and you want to feel and look your best again, then click the button below to access the free training video I’ve put together for you.